JUAN WANTS A MAT FINISH
CHELSEA (0) v STEAUA BUCHAREST (1) Kick-off 8.05pm – Live on ITV1
JUAN MATA believes Sunday’s Old Trafford comeback will provide the springboard for Europa League success for Chelsea.
Rafael Benitez’s side hit a rare high-point when they recovered after falling 2-0 behind against Man United in the weekend FA Cup clash.
The Blues responded after Benitez made a tactical double substitution in the second half. And after clinching a quarter-final replay, Mata reckons the team is on a high going into tomorrow’s meeting with Steaua Bucharest – despite trailing 1-0 from the first leg.
The Spaniard said: “The team is full of confidence, I am sure about that.
“We are willing to try another comeback. With our supporters behind us we can make it. We need to have another magical night at the Bridge.”
Benitez admits the Europa League is a sideshow compared to the main priority of finishing in the top four.
Trigger
The club hierarchy have made it clear to him that Chelsea cannot afford to miss out on the Champions League millions.
And while Benitez has no chance of extending his stay at the club, he knows it would be a massive blow to his reputation if he failed to hit that target.
But even though the focus is trained on the Premier League and Sunday’s meeting with West Ham, Benitez also knows defeat to Steaua will trigger another outpouring of rage from the club’s supporters.
The manager came in for heavy flak when he replaced Frank